Under the title "With Efe by Photo: 40 Years of Passion for Colombia," the exhibition displays the nation's chief events from the political, social, cultural and sports points of view.

The exhibition is made up of 29 pictures taken by Efe photojournalists and selected by Sergio Urday, winner of the 1991 King of Spain Prize for Photography.

"What we're saying with this exhibition is what Agencia Efe of Colombia has been saying to foreigners, to the rest of the world," Grijelmo said during the exhibition's inauguration ceremony at Bogota's International Emerald Museum.

The golfer Camilo Villegas, Colombian ex-Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos leading the destruction of cluster munitions to comply with the Oslo Convention, a teacher demanding the release of her soldier son held captive by FARC rebels, and Juanes and Miguel Bose giving a concert for peace in Havana, are some of the personalities seen in the exhibit.

The show "does not just refer to what the media normally show of conflicts and violence - it's an image of the culture, the multi-ethnic and multicultural reality of Colombia," Grijelmo said.

Producing the exhibition, which will be open to the public until Nov. 25 in downtown Santander Park, was made possible thanks to the support of Colombia es Pasion, a state agency that has joined in the celebrations of Agencia Efe's 40th anniversary in the country.

The director of Colombia es Pasion, Maria Claudia Lacoture, expressed her gratitude for Efe's 40 years of collaboration with the country.

"Not only through journalism, but with the contribution (Efe) has made through these beautiful photos in displaying Colombia internationally," the Colombian official said.

"Judging by these pictures, Colombians can well be proud of their country. We have felt like Colombians for at least 40 years," Grijelmo said. EFE